POLITICS
Trump says he always had autoworkers’ backs. Union leaders say his first-term record shows otherwise
WHEC
By Joey Cappelletti and Michelle L. Price
Sept. 21, 2023
Mark McManus, president of the plumbers and pipefitters union, said in a statement Tuesday that Trump “tried to gut” the labor relations board under his administration “to undo the safeguards that protect working families.” Michigan AFL-CIO President Ron Bieber told The Associated Press in an emailed statement that the board was stacked with “anti-worker appointees who trampled on collective bargaining rights.”
TRANSPORTATION
Transportation Trades Department issues statement in recognition of Rail Safety Week
Trains
By Staff
Sept. 21, 2023
President and Secretary-Treasurer of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD), Greg Regan and Shari Semelsberger, issued a statement to recognize Rail Safety Week 2023. Spearheaded by Operation Lifesaver, Inc., and collaborated with many organizations and institutions throughout North America, the Sept. 18-24 campaign raises the awareness to the public surrounding railroad safety [See “Rail Safety Week: Together, We Can Stop Track Tragedies” News Wire, Sept. 18, 2023]. In a Sept. 20, 2023, press release, the TTD urges the awareness to expand towards the increase in safety and protection for railroad employees while looking to reverse recent worsening rail safety records. “Every year, thousands of lives are claimed in rail crossing and trespassing incidents across the country,” as read in the release. “While we strive to get this number down to zero, we must also commit to the same safety goals for rail workers who are severely or fatally injured while on the job.”
JOINING TOGETHER
Hollywood chiefs and writers to resume negotiations Thursday after attendees ‘encouraged’ by talks
CNN Business
By Oliver Darcy and Chris Isidore
Sept. 21, 2023
For the first time in months, Hollywood studios and striking writers have made progress in their negotiations, potentially nearing an end to a more-than-140-day strike that has frozen production. Writers and heads of the four major studios are set to meet for a second consecutive day Thursday as they try to hammer out a deal that puts to an end the historic strike.
US autoworkers to expand strikes amid contract stalemate: ‘We’re not messing around’
The Guardian
By Michael Sainato
Sept. 21, 2023
The United Auto Workers (UAW) looks set to escalate strike actions against US car plants on Friday as the union struggles to reach a deal with the automakers General Motors, Stellantis and Ford. The UAW president, Shawn Fain, announced last week that the union would launch a series of “stand up” strikes at individual car plants after failing to reach agreement over a new union contract with the car companies. “If we don’t make serious progress by noon on Friday, September 22nd, more locals will be called on to stand up and join the strike,” Fain said this week. “Autoworkers have waited long enough to make things right at the big three. We’re not waiting around and we’re not messing around, so noon on September 22nd is a new deadline.”
NYC school bus companies, drivers union reach tentative deal to avoid strike
NY1
By Spectrum News Staff
Sept. 21, 2023
Five school bus companies have reached a tentative agreement with the union representing bus drivers and other school bus workers, making the chances of a strike much less likely. The union — ATU Local 1181 — said it's still working to reach a deal with three other bus companies, including NYC BUS, which is owned by the city. In a statement released Wednesday night, ATU Local 1181 said is had secured wage increases and other protections, including “getting back provisions they lost over a decade ago.” "Our school bus workers care deeply about their students, who they transport safely to and from school each day. I'm glad that we could reach this strong deal that recognizes the important role our members play." said Local 1181 President/Business Agent Tomas Fret. "After almost a year of negotiations, the ATU has secured a contract that not only improves the lives of our hardworking members but also enhances the safety and reliability of school bus services for our communities."
A new breed of leaders are atop the largest US unions today. Here are some faces to know
The Washington Post
By Associated Press
Sept. 21, 2023
There will be no Emmy Awards tonight and there are thousands of auto workers on picket lines in Missouri, Michigan and Ohio in a seemingly rapid reemergence of organized labor this year. Leading those efforts are new union leaders voted into power by workers that have seemingly run out of patience as they have a more difficult time making ends meet.
'Standing together:' Louisville UAW Ford workers host rally during ongoing national strike
Courier Journal
By Olivia Evans
Sept. 21, 2023
Autoworkers have been striking across the country for nearly a week. On Thursday, UAW Local 862 in Louisville, representing 12,000 workers at the Ford Louisville Assembly Plant and the Kentucky Truck Plant, joined in the labor movement and held a rally "to show solidarity and support to striking UAW workers," according to a news release from Local 862. Last week, the UAW launched a strike against all three Detroit automakers — Ford, General Motors and Stellantis, which owns the Jeep, Ram, Chrysler, Dodge and Fiat brands — for the first time in the union's 88-year history.
State workers union ratifies new 2-year contract
Bangor Daily News
By Christopher Burns
Sept. 21, 2023
A union representing state workers has ratified a new two-year contract. That contract will provide pay raises and expanded benefits to the 1,039 workers represented by Council 93 of the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees. The state and AFSCME Council 93’s negotiators reached a tentative agreement on Aug. 17, and the union’s membership formally ratified the proposed contract on Sept. 14, according to the governor’s office.
Northern Illinois University employees fight for better wages
WIFR
By Elisa Reamer
Sept. 21, 2023
Northern Illinois University (NIU) employees fight for what they say is their right to earn a living wage at the school’s Board of Trustees meeting Thursday. “Stop the new people coming in that are coming in making more money than the incumbents, stop the compression where the new people are almost at the same spot, as well as rewarding those employees that have been here for many years,” said Rave Meyer, AFSCME Local 1890 president. Six NIU employees stepped to the podium at Thursday’s Board of Trustees meeting to explain why they deserve a higher wage and share stories about their need to rely on food banks and Medicaid to get by. “People that were hired after me in academic departments that are smaller than psychology, same job title, and they make more than me,” said Nicole Adams, Department of Psychology office manager. “Is that fair? Is that equitable?
Lisa Takeuchi Cullen Elected President Of WGA East; Running Unopposed, She Succeeds Michael Winship
Deadline
By David Robb
Sept. 21, 2023
Lisa Takeuchi Cullen, running unopposed, has been elected president of the WGA East. Cullen, who until now had been VP of the guild’s Film/TV/Streaming sector, succeeds Michael Winship, who chose not to seek re-election. In the WGA East’s other officer elections, two other candidates also ran unopposed. Chris Kyle was re-elected secretary-treasurer, and Erica Saleh, a member of the guild’s Council, will be the next VP of Film/TV/Streaming – the post previously held by Cullen.