Today's AFL-CIO Press Clips
MUST READ
Unions Are America's Future. The Numbers Say So (Opinion)
By Liz Shuler
Sept. 1, 2023
A few weeks ago, I stood on the streets of New York City with working actors, performers and writers from SAG-AFTRA and the Writers Guild of America who have been on strike for months now: risking their livelihoods to win a fair contract for themselves and all who come after. We chanted. We walked the picket line. But what inspired me most was when working people all around us—overwhelmingly young workers, in their 20s and 30s—saw what was happening and joined in: UPS drivers who laid on their horns to show support. Construction workers who clapped as they passed by. Food delivery workers who stopped for a minute to cheer us on.
Nursing homes must boost staffing levels under new Biden plan
ABC News
By Anne Flaherty
Sept. 1, 2023
Leaders of labor unions, which pushed for the new rule, say more people will raise their hands to work at nursing homes if employment conditions were better. "Care workers are egregiously underpaid and deeply undervalued, and it's past time they receive good pay and dignity on the job," said Liz Shuler, president of the AFL-CIO, a federation of labor unions.
POLITICS
Biden administration proposes minimum staffing standards for nursing homes
Fierce Healthcare
By Dave Muoio
Sept. 1, 2023
Liz Shuler, president of labor organization AFL-CIO, applauded the proposal as a boon for residents and workers alike. "Corporations long have prioritized cutting costs rather than shoring up safety for health care workers and the people who rely on these life-sustaining services," she said in a statement. "Workers continue to bear the brunt of the care economy crisis and are stretched thin by a severe lack of resources. Care workers are egregiously underpaid and deeply undervalued, and it’s past time they receive good pay and dignity on the job."
CMS issues nursing home staff minimums rule
Modern Healthcare
By Diane Eastabrook and Lauren Berryman
Sept. 1, 2023
"Workers and the families of residents have been sounding the alarm for decades about the need for a minimum national staffing standard in nursing homes, and we commend the Biden-Harris administration for answering the call," AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler said in a news release. "We are hopeful that today’s announcement of a proposed minimum national standard will be a critical first step toward strengthening our long-term care system." The labor federation includes National Nurses United, which represents nearly 225,000 healthcare workers.
LABOR AND ECONOMY
Black unemployment rate in August is cautiously good news as Biden touts strong economy
The Grio
By Gerren Keith Gaynor
Sept. 1, 2023
Fred Redmond, secretary-treasurer of AFL-CIO, the nation’s largest federation of unions, told theGrio that President Biden has taken steps to reshape the economy to be more equitable for Black Americans. “Time and time again, this president stood with working people to tackle the most pressing challenges we face, and he’s trying to create an economy that works for all of us,” Redmond said. “This president understands the inequality in this country, and he’s doing everything he can through his policies.”
JOINING TOGETHER
Union members march in Detroit on Labor Day, as potential UAW strike looms
Michigan Radio
By Steve Carmody
Sept. 4, 2023
National AFL-CIO president Liz Shuler was among those marching up Michigan Avenue. Shuler said union members don’t want to be taken for granted. She pointed to the numerous strikes taking place across the U.S. as a sign workers want to be listened to and respected. “There are workers across the board, in every industry, saying ‘We’re fed up,’” said Shuler.
UAW's Fain says union stands united as contract deadline looms
Detroit Free Press
By Susan Selasky
Sept. 4, 2023
Among those leading the parade with Fain was Liz Shuler, AFL-CIO president, and U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Ann Arbor. Shuler said the workers are “fired up." “They are fired up, they got us through this pandemic, they sacrificed and now they want their fair share,” Shuler said. “We are seeing it here with the UAW, we are seeing it with bakery workers, nurses and hotel workers all across this country. Working people are on the rise.”
Nurses striking for ‘safe staffing’ vow to keep up the fight
New Jersey Monitor
By Dana Difilippo
Sept. 1, 2023
Negotiations started in April. The nurses’ contract expired June 30 and was extended to July 21, and nurses went on strike Aug. 4. Since the most recent bargaining session Aug. 16, the two sides are now at an impasse. RWJBarnabas Health is the largest health care system in the state and employs the most nurses statewide. The 620-bed Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick is its biggest hospital. The ongoing strike is nurses’ first since 2006, when they were off the job for about 25 days, Danella said.
LAX food workers vote to authorize strike ahead of Labor Day weekend, pressuring tourism industry
Los Angeles Times
By Suhauna Hussain
Sept. 1, 2023
The airport workers at many of LAX‘s shops and restaurants could join picket lines over the Labor Day weekend after voting overwhelmingly Thursday to authorize a strike. The cashiers, dishwashers, cooks, bartenders and other food workers who authorized the strike are represented by Unite Here Local 11 and voted to authorize a strike with a 99% margin, the union said. Polling stations were set up at various LAX terminals early Thursday morning where workers could cast their ballots throughout the day.
SAG-AFTRA to hold strike authorization vote for video game performers
CBS Los Angeles
By KCAL-News Staff
Sept. 1, 2023
The SAG-AFTRA actors' union, which is already on strike against Hollywood film and TV studios, announced Friday it will ask its eligible members to authorize a strike against video game production companies. "It has been nearly a year since SAG-AFTRA's video game contract, the Interactive Media Agreement, was extended beyond the original expiration date as we negotiated with the companies for critical terms SAG-AFTRA members need," according to a statement from the union. "Unfortunately, throughout the negotiations, the companies have failed to address those needs. For this reason, the negotiating committee and National Board unanimously agreed that the union should have a member-approved strike authorization in hand when bargaining resumes on Sept. 26."
Union authorizes strike against Ascension Providence Rochester Hospital
The Oakland Press
By Anne Runkle
Sept. 2, 2023
A union representing registered nurses and radiology technologists at Ascension Providence Rochester Hospital has voted to authorize a three-day unfair labor practice strike. The strike will begin at 7 a.m. Sept. 11, unless an agreement is reached before then, according to a release from Local 40 of the Office and Professional Employees International Union. Negotiations between the union local and the hospital administration have been ongoing since 2022 under contract extensions, the release said. “Frustrated by the lack of progress and the hospital’s alleged illegal activities, OPEIU Local 40 conducted a ULP strike vote, with 100% participation of eligible voters resulting in a clear mandate to authorize the three-day strike,” the release said.
Labor leader Shuler touts union support as possible auto strikes loom
Wisconsin Examiner
By Jacob Fischler
Sept. 4, 2023
Support for unions is growing amid shifting working conditions and labor disputes around the country, according to Liz Shuler, the president of the largest labor group in the country. In Shuler’s comments last week at the AFL-CIO’s first State of the Unions event in Washington, she cited polling that showed support for unions cut across party lines. The AFL-CIO commissioned a poll by GBAO, a Democratic polling and research firm, that found 91% of Democratic respondents and 52% of Republicans approved of unions, with even higher numbers supporting the right to strike. United Auto Workers at Detroit’s “Big Three” car companies voted overwhelmingly Aug. 25 to authorize a strike if a deal with Ford, General Motors and Stellantis is not reached before their contract expires Sept. 14. Shuler characterized that vote as part of a trend in stronger union activity in the face of “a systematic attack” on labor, including many state laws that make union organizing more difficult and the 2018 U.S. Supreme Court decision that allowed workers in unionized workplaces to opt out of paying union dues.
IN THE STATES
Indiana AFL-CIO launches '1-stop shop' website to educate, organize Hoosier workers
Indy Star
By Claire Rafford
Sept. 1, 2023
Increased visibility from a confluence of strikes across the country is driving interest and awareness about unions — the Writers’ Guild of America and SAG-AFTRA strikes in Los Angeles, United Auto Workers preparing to strike, and UPS Teamsters narrowly avoiding a work stoppage with contract ratification — are leading a movement colloquially referred to as “hot labor summer.” Drawing off that energy as Labor Day approaches, Indiana State AFL-CIO is launching its new online organizing platform called Hoosier Union Friday, the organization exclusively told IndyStar. President Brett Voorhies envisions the platform as a “one-stop shop” for information about joining or forming a union in Indiana at a time when union popularity is on the rise. A recent poll found that 71% of Americans support labor unions, with that number rising even higher to 88% for Americans under 30.
Stephanie Bloomingdale: A solid middle class rests on good union jobs (Opinion)
Wisconsin State Journal
By Stephanie Bloomingdale
Sept. 2, 2023
Labor Day is so much more than just the annual bookend to summer, a day off for some or an occasion to get together with family and friends. First and foremost, Labor Day is an annual celebration of the social and economic achievements of American workers — and there are many. As the labor movement finds itself at a historic juncture in our changing economy, let us acknowledge the contributions that labor unions have made to our society. Taking all things into account, one thing is clear: Life is better in a union.
'Be louder and work harder' | NC unions face uphill battle as US celebrates Labor Day
WCNC
By Ben Thompson
Sept. 1, 2023
"We just have to be louder and work harder to let workers know that they have the right to collectively bargain. Even in North Carolina, which is a right-to-work state, you still have federally protected rights to work in concerted action with your co workers to make things in your workplace better," Ashley Hawkins, President of the Charlotte-Metrolina Labor Council, said on WCNC Charlotte's Flashpoint.
Labor Day celebrates American workers’ victories. WA unions are fighting for more (Opinion)
The News Tribune
By April Sims, Mark Riker and Jon Holden
Sept. 2, 2023
From rising temperatures to worsening wildfires across the state, the climate crisis is having a direct impact on Washington’s communities. While it is impacting all of us, it is especially hard on communities of color and rural areas. At the same time, economic inequality is making it harder for working families in those communities to make ends meet.
On Labor Day, let’s remember: Life is better in a union (Opinion)
Times Union
By Mario Cilento
Sept. 4, 2023
Labor Day is a time to celebrate the contributions of working people in every sector of the economy. It is also a time to reflect on all the union members who came before us and fought for the eight-hour workday, safety protections and more essentials that we take for granted. At this moment in time, union activity is surging across the country and right here in New York state with more workers coming together to join a union and more workers making the difficult decision to strike. When it comes to unionizing, we are seeing workers organizing at high-profile companies like Amazon, Starbucks and Apple. Unionization has increased among journalists, graduate students, video gamers, bookstores, legislative staff and nonprofit organizations, many of which are not traditionally unionized industries.
On this Labor Day, we look at why Ohio is seeing a rise in union membership
News 5 Cleveland
By Clay LePard
Sept. 4, 2023
"Workers have taken stock of their lives and put two and two together and they need some sort of collective power at the workplace," Tim Burga, President of the Ohio AFL-CIO, said.
‘Reclaiming our power’: Oregon AFL-CIO president talks union growth
KOIN
By Michaela Bourgeois, Emily Burris and Travis Teich
Sept. 4, 2023
With the growing labor movement, the National Labor Relations Board saw a 53% increase in union petitions between October 2021 and September 2022. According to Oregon AFL-CIO President Graham Trainor, 75% of those union elections were successful in 2022. “There’s lots of reasons that go into what’s driving this moment in labor action. Coming out of the pandemic, workers were treated as expendable while told that they were heroes by employers and so workers are angry, we’re reclaiming our power and we’re doing that at a time when union approval rating… is through the roof,” Trainor explained.
Organized labor ready to celebrate the working people of West Virginia
WV Metro News
By MetroNews Staff
Sept. 1, 2023
There are a number of Labor Day celebrations happening across West Virginia this weekend as the nation recognizes the working men and women of America. “It is an opportunity for us to recognize what labor has done for this country and that is built the greatest country on this planet,” said West Virginia AFL-CIO President Josh Sword.
Greater Cincinnati union advocates express optimism during Labor Day get-together
WLWT
By Todd Dykes
Sept. 4, 2023
"That is a huge win for this area and for our nation," said Brian Griffin, the executive secretary-treasure of the Cincinnati AFL-CIO Labor Council. "And the bottom line is our ironworkers and our laborers are going to be all over that for the next decade."
LABOR AND COMMUNITY
Union members spend Labor Day doing community service to help homeless folks in Sacramento
KCRA
By Lysée Mitri
Sept. 4, 2023
Continuing a tradition on the Labor Day holiday, Sacramento labor union members and city leaders dedicated their time to doing community service. Dozens of union members affiliated with the Sacramento Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO volunteered with Loaves & Fishes to serve up warm meals for those struggling with homelessness and poverty. "I think it's important for people to be involved in the community," said Bob Kuks, a business representative with the Sheet Metal Workers Local Union No. 104.