MUST READ
UAW prepares to strike at Detroit Three automakers, rejects new offers
Reuters
By David Shepardson and Joseph White
Sept. 13, 2023
AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler told Reuters autoworkers do not want to go on strike "but they will if they have to in order to reach a fair deal." Shuler noted there have been over 200 strikes this year in the United States. "It's because the economy is broken. Workers are fed up," she said.
LABOR AND TECHNOLOGY
The who's who of the tech world meet with senators to debate plan to regulate AI
WESA
By Claudia Grisales
Sept. 13, 2023
Ahead of Wednesday's meeting, AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler argued that workers must be central to AI policy. "Public support for unions is at near record highs because workers are tired of being guinea pigs in an AI live experiment," Shuler said in a statement. "The labor movement knows AI can empower workers and increase prosperity – but only if workers are centered in its creation and the rules that govern it.
Gates, Zuckerburg, Musk, other tech giants join senators in closed-door AI forum
Spectrum News 1
By Cassie Semyon
Sept. 13, 2023
A major concern is how AI will affect the workplace in the future, and while those concerns are still active, AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler told reporters that these types of conversations are a step in the right direction. “We definitely had a lot to say about workers rights, the risks around job safety and security, civil and human rights, discrimination. But there’s also a lot of technical experts in the room, so we all have a lot to learn, and I think we’re looking forward to additional conversations to make sure that this technology is used for good,” said Shuler, who was joined by other labor and civil rights stakeholders.
JOINING TOGETHER
UAW leaders rally workers in waning hours of contract negotiations
Kokomo Tribune
By Spencer Durham
Sept. 13, 2023
“We’ve got to make sure that transition is just,” said Brett Voorhies, president of the Indiana State AFL-CIO. “We got to make sure those jobs are for our people.”
UAW Members rally in Kokomo against Big Three automakers
WTHR
By Karen Campbell
Sept. 13, 2023
"Nobody wants it. Nobody really wins at the end of the day in a strike but it's a tool that they have the right to use when it comes to collective bargaining agreement," said Brett Voorhies, president of the Indiana AFL-CIO.
SAG-AFTRA actors march from Netflix Studios to Paramount
CBS Los Angeles
By KCAL-NEWS Staff
Sept. 13, 2023
Striking members of the SAG-AFTRA actors union gathered at Netflix Studios Wednesday morning and are marching to Paramount. The SAG-AFTRA National board voted unanimously to call a strike following the conclusion of the TV/Theatrical/Streaming negotiations with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP). According to the release, they are fighting to ensure its members receive their fair share of streaming revenues, increased compensation to keep pace with inflation, and an agreement that will give actors informed consent and fair pay if A.I. is used to create digital replicas of their performance, voice, or likeness.
U.A.W. Prepares for Limited Strike Against Detroit Automakers on Friday
The New York Times
By Neal E. Boudette
Sept. 13, 2023
Barely 24 hours before the contract deadline, the United Auto Workers leader said Wednesday that his members were prepared for a strike against the three Detroit automakers — first at a limited number of factories, with the walkout expanding if talks remain bogged down. The U.A.W. president, Shawn Fain, also ruled out any extension of the existing four-year contracts with General Motors, Ford Motor and Stellantis after they expire on Thursday night. “September 14 is a deadline, not a reference point,” he declared in an address to union members on Facebook Live. He said the initial strike locations would be “limited and targeted,” and would be communicated to members on Thursday night ahead of a Friday walkout.
Auto union president says they may strike all 3 automakers 'at once' as deadline nears
ABC News
By Kevin Shalvey, William Kim, and Victor Ordonez
Sept. 13, 2023
As the strike deadline set by the United Auto Workers union approaches, the union's president said that, for the first time in history, they are prepared to strike all three automakers at once. "We're going to be doing things differently this time around," the union's president, Shawn Fain, said during an update on social media Wednesday evening. "First of all, for the first time in our history, we may strike all three of the Big Three at once." "Our message to the companies was clear, if we don't have a fair contract by midnight on Thursday night, we will strike," he continued.
Marvel Visual Effects Workers Unanimously Vote “Yes” to Unionize
The Hollywood Reporter
By Carolyn Giardina
Sept. 13, 2023
It’s official: In a unanimous vote, the visual effects employees at Marvel Studios voted to unionize with IATSE in a closely watched election held by the National Labor Relations Board. The vote marks the first time a unit of solely VFX workers has unionized with IATSE. Voting closed on Monday after the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees and Disney/Marvel reached a stipulated election agreement last month. According to today’s announcement from IATSE, there was a “high turnout” from the roughly 50 Marvel employees, which includes jobs such as VFX coordinators and data wranglers.
Striking actors, writers swarm Hollywood in massive solidarity march
NBC Los Angeles
By City News Service
Sept. 13, 2023
Thousands of striking writers and actors staged a solidarity march through Hollywood Wednesday, culminating in a boisterous rally outside Paramount studios as the dual labor stoppages continue to halt movie and TV production. The Writers Guild of America has been on strike since early May. The SAG-AFTRA actors' union joined the writers on the picket lines in July. There have been some negotiations between the WGA and Hollywood studios in recent weeks, but still no indication a resolution is at hand. There has not been any word of talks between the studios and SAG-AFTRA.
In “Historic First,” Marvel Studios VFX Workers Vote Unanimously To Unionize With IATSE
Deadline
By David Robb
Sept. 13, 2023
Visual effects workers at Marvel Studios and seven of its subsidiaries have voted 32-0 to unionize with IATSE in an election conducted by the National Labor Relations Board. The union called the unanimous vote an “historic first” for the industry’s VFX workforce. The next step for IATSE is to engage in collective bargaining with Marvel to negotiate a first contract covering the studio’s VFX workers, 42 of whom were eligible to vote. VFX staffers at Walt Disney Pictures, meanwhile, aren’t far behind and are now voting in their own NLRB election, with the results expected on October 2.
TRANSPORTATION
Pittsburgh Union Progress
By Steve Mellon
Sept. 10, 2023
Working as a rail car inspector for Norfolk Southern is a tough gig these days, especially for those who must travel near East Palestine, Ohio. A number of folks there remain angry over Norfolk Southern’s treatment of residents who continue to suffer from the effects of a Feb. 3 derailment that spewed toxins over the community. “Some of my guys will be in a Norfolk Southern truck, going somewhere, and people will be giving them the finger,” said Dennis Sabina, president of Transit Workers Union Local 2035 and a Norfolk Southern carman. He and his colleagues inspect the rail company’s cars at Conway. Sabina understands the residents’ anger but said it’s misplaced.
LABOR AND COMMUNITY
Kirksville firefighters saddle up for third annual Ranch Rodeo and Barrel Race fundraiser
KTVO
By Caelan McGee
Sept. 13, 2023
Kirksville firefighters will be hosting the third annual Ranch Rodeo and Barrel Race this Saturday. The Kirksville chapter of the International Association of Firefighters (IAFF) will be hosting the event once again this year at the NEMO Fairgrounds in Kirksville. Last year the event raised around $10,000. All proceeds will be going back to the organization's community outreach fund.