Today's AFL-CIO press clips
JOINING TOGETHER
Business Insider
By Nora Naughton and Juliana Kaplan
Oct. 5, 2023
In a Reuters-Ipsos poll of Americans, some 58% of respondents said they supported the United Auto Workers union's strike at the Big Three Detroit car manufacturers. The study surveyed 1,005 people and was conducted between September 19 and 20. Christian Sweeney, the AFL-CIO's deputy director of organizing, told Insider that he'd been an organizer for about 25 years "and the support for unions now is really radically different." Today, "we're in a different phase of the history of the American labor movement," Sweeney said, adding that the newest generation of workers were "some of the most pro-union workers that have ever entered the workforce."
‘We’re holding up this institution’: Grad union adds 1,000 workers to Maine’s labor movement
Maine Beacon
By Dan Neumann
Oct. 5, 2023
Last week, the Maine Labor Relations Board certified a new union that will represent the 1,000 graduate workers across all campuses of the University of Maine System who make up a large percentage of the overall teaching and research workforce. The university administration voluntarily recognized the union, which is now a member of the United Auto Workers, after a supermajority of grad workers signed authorization cards stating they wished to be represented by the union. The announcement comes amid a national wave of graduate worker strikes and new organizing drives on campuses across the country that accelerated during the pandemic.
Signs of progress as UAW and Detroit automakers continue "active talks"
CBS News
By Khristopher J. Brooks
Oct. 5, 2023
United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain is scheduled to give an update Friday on the union's labor contract negotiations with Detroit's Big Three automakers, with some signs the sides are narrowing their differences as the strike inflicts an increasingly heavy financial toll. Fain could yet call for additional targeted strikes at Ford, General Motors and Stellantis facilities, where about 25,000 workers at five vehicle assembly plants and 38 parts warehouses have walked off the job since the work stoppage began on September 15. But UAW and automaker representatives made meaningful progress during talks Wednesday, the Associated Press reported, raising hopes of a possible thaw in the contentious negotiations. A source with the UAW also told CBS News that the sides are engaged in "active talks."
Hormel, meatpackers reach tentative contract agreement
Star Tribune
By Trey Mewes
Oct. 5, 2023
Union meatpackers say they've reached a tentative agreement with Hormel Foods Corp. for a new four-year contract, ending months of protracted negotiations and averting a potential strike. The United Food and Commercial Workers Union and Hormel struck a deal Wednesday evening, though the details behind the deal haven't been publicly released. Union officials said in a statement Thursday they'll share the proposal with workers over the weekend and hold a vote on the deal Monday. If all goes well, votes will be tallied and shared with workers Monday night.
Art Institute of Chicago Workers Ratify First Contract
Art & Object
By Rebecca Schiffman
Oct. 5, 2023
The Art Institute of Chicago (AIC) museum and their employee union have come to an agreement, securing their first contract which promises pay raises, new career opportunities, and affordable healthcare while protecting workers' rights on the job for four years. The union, which comprises over 500 employees of the museum and its affiliated school, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC), has been in negotiations for over one year with AIC. At the approach of the one-year mark, the union began plans for a strike, but the museum presented a bargaining contract, which was accepted. The Art Institute of Chicago Workers United (AICWU) was formed in January 2022. The union advocates for an equitable, sustainable, and transparent workplace for all employees, according to their website. They believe that they deserve a voice in leadership decisions, better wages, transparency around compensation, safe working conditions, and a zero harassment policy. The union stresses that they believe in the museum’s and school’s missions and their value to the communities served.
Long Beach and IBEW Local 47 agree on new labor contract for 660 workers
Press-Telegram
By Alfredo Santana
Oct. 5, 2023
Long Beach has reached a new labor agreement with the union representing 660 employees in 12 departments that increases salaries 5% in the next three years, averting work stoppages and disruption of services. The agreement with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 47 was hammered out after several rounds of negotiations that started last April. It calls for a 3% wage rise in the first year, followed by 1% salary increases in the second and third years. IBEW Local 47 workers are employed in the Harbor, Utilities, Finance and Management, Public Works, Technology and Innovation, Energy Resources, Health and Human Services, Police, Library, Parks, Recreation and Marine, and Airport departments.
Disney Visual Effects Worker Vote To Unionize
LAist
By Gillian Morán Pérez
Oct. 5, 2023
Visual effects workers at Walt Disney Pictures have voted to join Hollywood union IATSE, making them the second group of visual effect workers to unionize in recent months.
American Federation of Teachers supporting UAW strikers
WDTN
By Grace Hewitt and Carlos Mathis
Oct. 5, 2023
The United Auto Workers (UAW) strike is in its third week. Earlier this week, the UAW and other unions held a rally at the General Motors plant in West Chester to voice their demands. Across the U.S. and in Ohio, strikers have even more support with members of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) joining the picket lines. According to the AFT, the union is made up of 1.7 million teachers that campaigns for fairness, economic opportunity high-quality public education, healthcare and public services for students, families and communities. At Thursday’s rally, people from across the region showed their support, like AFT National President Randi Weingarten. “My message to the strikers, which is why the AFT is warned out all across the country today to be on the strike lines is that people are with you, their solidarity,” says Weingarten. “Your fight is our fight and we are here for you as you make this righteous fight for dignity and respect.”
LATINA EQUAL PAY DAY
Union difference is huge for Latina workers
The Stand
By Connie Rodriguez
Oct. 5, 2023
Latinas are one of the fastest growing groups of workers in the United States, opening new businesses and enrolling in colleges and degree programs in record numbers. Latinas are excelling in every sector and industry in our country. Despite all of this, we are still fighting for economic security, to be able to live and work with dignity and to be less vulnerable to different forms of violence, including sexual harassment. Latina Equal Pay Day calls attention to this ongoing fight for economic justice and respect.
On Latina Equal Pay Day, a heightened focus on the drive for pay equity
NBC Chicago
By PJ Randhawa
Oct. 5, 2023
The American dream is the belief that every citizen has the equal opportunity to achieve success through hard work. Unfortunately, federal labor statistics show that is not the reality we live in. The pay gap impacting women and people of color has held steady for the past 20 years. On October 5, known as "Latina Equal Pay Day" there is a renewed focus on how pay inequity impacts Latina workers, who are among the lowest paid of all Americans.