MUST READ
The ‘Year of Labor’ in 2023 Was Just the Beginning (Opinion)
The Messenger
By Liz Shuler
Jan. 9, 2024
When Alicia Weaver, a guest room attendant at the MGM Grand Detroit, went on strike last year with UNITE HERE, she didn’t know how long she would be on the picket line. All she knew was she and her co-workers deserved more: Better wages, after 24 years on the job; decent health care, so she didn’t have to choose between a doctor’s visit and paying rent; a chance to grow professionally and have a future at the company — something that hit home for Alicia as she looked down the strike line and saw her own son, also an MGM Grand Detroit employee. After 47 days on the picket line in the Detroit winter — in rain and freezing temperatures — Alicia and her co-workers won historic raises, benefits, job security and opportunities to grow their careers. When people ask me why the labor movement just had its most dynamic and successful year in a generation, I tell them about workers like Alicia — people whose lives changed because they stood together with their co-workers. For all the talk about macro trends and economic factors, the driving force behind the “Year of Labor” was simple: Being in a union makes your life better.
MLK
AFL-CIO’s MLK conference to be held this weekend in Montgomery
Alabama Political Reporter
By Patrick Darrington
Jan. 9, 2024
This weekend the AFL-CIO will conduct it’s 2024 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Civil and Human Rights Conference in Montgomery. The theme for the conference will be “Our Voice, Our Ballot, Our Future” which according to the AFL-CIO is supposed to honor, “Dr. King’s vision for collective action at the voting booth, in the community and in the workplace to safeguard the pillars of our democracy”. The location of the conference will be the Renaissance Montgomery Hotel & Spa at the Convention Center.
The conference will be held from Friday, Jan. 12 to Sunday, Jan. 14 and each day will focus on different portions of the theme. Friday will explore the “Our Voice” portion of the conference beginning at 10:00 a.m. with opening remarks from AFL-CIO President Elizabeth Shuler and AFL-CIO Secretary Treasurer Fred Redmond. Advocacy and collective action will be discussed in several workshops throughout the day.
POLITICS
Millions of gig workers could qualify as employees under new Biden-era rule
The Washington Post
By Lauren Kaori Gurley
Jan. 9, 2024
Millions of gig workers, janitors, home-care workers, construction workers and truckers could be considered employees rather than independent contractors under a final rule announced Tuesday by the Labor Department. The rule effectively expands the reach of federal labor laws that require employers to extend certain benefits and protections to workers classified as employees. Those include the right to the minimum wage, overtime pay, unemployment insurance and Social Security benefits — which employers are not required to provide to independent contractors. The rule will “help create a level playing field for businesses, protect workers from being denied the right to fair pay and affirm the vital role true independent contractors play in our economy by allowing them to thrive,” acting labor secretary Julie Su told reporters on a call Monday.
New Jersey Labor Movement Has Record Number of Union Members Sworn into the Legislature
Insider NJ
By Staff
Jan. 9, 2024
Today is the beginning of the new legislative session and the New Jersey State Labor Movement made history. The 2024/2025 Legislature will have a total of nine union members serving. They are State Senators Vin Gopal (IBEW Local 400), Paul Moriarty (SAG-AFTRA), Troy Singleton (UBC) and Latham Tiver (IUOE Local 825). In the Assembly are Wayne DeAngelo (IBEW Local 269), Christian Barranco (IBEW Local 102), Kevin Egan (IBEW Local 456), William Sampson (ILA) and Anthony Verrelli (UBC).
JOINING TOGETHER
Graduate student workers seek to form union at UNH
NHPR
By Todd Bookman
Jan. 8, 2024
Graduate students who simultaneously work for the University of New Hampshire in teaching and research positions are seeking to collectively bargain for better living and working conditions on campus.
In a Jan. 5 letter to UNH President James Dean, members of the UNH Graduate Employees United said the union was formed to “negotiate for improvements that not only enhance our living and working conditions as graduate student workers but also enhance our ability to contribute to academic and research excellence at UNH.” The union is seeking voluntary recognition from the school, and believes an “overwhelming majority” of its members support the effort.
Courier & Press Staff Unionizing
WNIN
By John Gibson
Jan. 8, 2024
Journalists at the Evansville Courier and Press are forming a union. WNIN’s John Gibson has details: The group of journalists cites slashed resources and jobs -- and the prospect that nothing will change without action. Since Gannett bought the newspaper in 2016, the newsroom has become a fraction of its former size -- but the reporters say the care and effort shown by the remaining staff has not wavered. They say there’s no indication from Gannett of any new hiring or pay raises. Evansville News Guild will become a bargaining unit of TNG-CWA Local 34070.
Salem Hospital doctors are organizing a union
Boston Globe
By Katie Johnston
Jan. 9, 2024
Citing budget cuts, overflowing hospital beds, and decisions being made without their input, doctors at Salem Hospital informed management on Monday that they are organizing a union to improve patient care. Nearly 100 of 145 physicians at the hospital, which is part of Mass General Brigham, have signed cards in support of joining Council 93of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees. The union represents 45,000 public and private-sector employees around New England and about 3,000 physicians nationwide. “It really comes down to a voice on the job, being able to impact how care is delivered,” said Daniel Morse, assistant director of organizing for AFSCME Council 93. “They feel as though the hospital is working at 100 percent capacity all the time, which makes it really tough for them to really render the care they want to give to the community.”
Fairmont becomes second hotel to sign a deal with hotel union
Santa Monica Daily Press
By Matthew Hall
Jan. 9, 2024
The Fairmont Miramar hotel has signed a deal with hospitality union Unite Here Local 11 to settle the long running labor dispute at the property. Union officials sent out a statement announcing the deal on Monday saying the new contract would improve the quality of life for workers. “We’re excited and proud to have reached an agreement at our hotel,” says Fairmont Miramar worker Liliana Hernandez, who has been a housekeeper at the hotel for eleven years. “The last six months were challenging for us, but I am so grateful that the whole union stood behind me and my coworkers, and I’m proud of the leadership and solidarity. We hope other Santa Monica hotels follow the example of the Fairmont. Sí se puede.”
Nexstar workers in Denver declare intent to unionize
KDVR
By Lanie Lee Cook
Jan. 9, 2024
Dozens of workers at Nexstar’s Denver operation declared their intent to unionize on Tuesday. The union effort includes around 75 full- and part-time staff from within the FOX31 and Channel 2 production and assignment desk teams and parent company Nexstar’s master control hub, which monitors the on-air product for dozens of stations around the U.S. “After a successful election, the KDVR/KWGN union hopes to continue the work of building a collaborative, respectful and mutually beneficial partnership that ensures KDVR/KWGN remains a vital and growing public media presence in Denver for years to come,” the petitioners said in a press release. The workers aim to join the National Association of Broadcast Employees and Technicians-Communications Workers of America. NABET-CWA filed a petition with the National Labor Relations Board on Jan. 9, according to the release.
Owners of Princeton's Labyrinth Books Voluntarily Recognize Union
Patch
By Sarah Salvadore
Jan. 9, 2024
The owners of Labyrinth Books said they recognize their staff’s choice to unionize and look forward to work together. “We as owners of Labyrinth Books have decided to stand with our staff and recognize their choice to unionize with the Retail Wholesale and Department Store Union. Since they announced just before Christmas that they wanted to unionize, we have been in a process of deep reflection and conversation, especially with our management team,” owners Cliff Simms, Peter Simms, Dorothea von Moltke said in a media statement on Tuesday.
Culinary Union sets strike deadline for 21 properties
8 News Now
By Caroline Bleakley
Jan. 9, 2024
Another strike looms for Culinary Union 226 that would impact nearly 8,000 resort workers at Las Vegas properties. On Monday, the union set a strike deadline of Feb. 2 to reach agreements with 21 independently owned Strip and downtown properties including Circus Circus Hotel, Sahara Las Vegas, Circa Resort, Virgin Hotels, and more. The contracts at those properties expired in June 2023.