Today's AFL-CIO Press Clips
ORGANIZING
700 Culinary union workers at Strat reach deal
Las Vegas Review-Journal
By McKenna Ross
Jan. 24, 2024
Culinary Local 226 members at a north Strip casino reached a tentative agreement with employers, the union announced late Tuesday. The hospitality union representing about 700 employees at The Strat negotiated a five-year deal with improvements on wages, work quotas, protections from technology and more.
Group of Seaport hotel workers vote to join union after months of uncertainty
Boston.com
By Molly Farrar
Jan. 23, 2024
A subset of workers at a hotel in the Seaport won a long-fought union vote last week, a conclusion to a year-long struggle after more than half of the workers lost their benefits. The Banquets and Convention Services department, composed of about 60 workers, at the Seaport Hotel Boston voted to join UNITE HERE Local 26 six months after they filed for an election, the union said.
The Texas Tribune Is Unionizing
The Austin Chronicle
By Lina Fisher
Jan. 24, 2024
Just under six months after the Texas Tribune weathered its first-ever round of layoffs, staff announced this morning that they are unionizing with the NewsGuild-CWA and asking for voluntary recognition from management by January 31. CEO Sonal Shah sent an email to staff 15 minutes after management was made aware of the union, writing, “Our response is simple. If Tribune employees want to be represented by a union, we will respect their right to representation… We respect our colleagues’ right to collectively bargain.” Talk of unionizing began when management alluded to budget shortfalls in the spring of 2023, but it was the layoffs that “created a sense of urgency to mobilize across the newsroom,” says Uriel García, an immigration reporter based in El Paso. Those layoffs, which affected 11% of the staff, were shocking – particularly the decision to fire the Tribune’s only dedicated criminal justice and demographic reporters. Many journalists were frustrated by the lack of explanation from management about the rationale behind the cuts. (One particularly chilling theory is that the decision was swayed by public institutions that had pulled sponsorships, which make up a significant portion of the Tribune’s revenue.)
JOINING TOGETHER
Cronkite News
By Lauren Kobley
Jan. 23, 2024
Workers employed by SSP America at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport walked out on strike Tuesday morning in response to alleged labor-law violations. UNITE HERE Local 11, the union that represents the strikers, filed unfair labor practice charges with the National Labor Relations Board for alleged “unilateral changes” made to the SSP America payroll system. The changes were reportedly made without negotiating with the union and resulted in paycheck delays for workers. Cynthia Reyes is one of the workers who experienced the delays.
Southwest flight attendants vote to authorize strike as pilots ratify new contract
Long Beach Business Journal
By Brandon Richardson
Jan. 23, 2024
Unionized flight attendants for Southwest Airlines, one of the nation’s largest air carriers, voted overwhelmingly Tuesday to authorize a strike following years of failed contract negotiations. The announcement comes the day after Southwest pilots ratified a new contract. According to Transport Workers Union of America Local 556, the union that represents the Southwest flight attendants, 98% of workers voted in favor of the strike, which “sends a strong message of solidarity to “Southwest Airlines Management.”
IN THE STATES
Wisconsin union membership rebounded slightly in 2023
Wisconsin Public Radio
By Joe Schulz
Jan. 24, 2024
Drew said last year felt like the beginning of a turning point, citing the national UAW strike as well as the high-profile writers and actors strikes. “In 2023, unions really stood up and fought for higher wages, better working conditions (and) better benefits,” he said. “I do think those high profile battles do focus people’s attention and encourage people to want to unionize.”
AFL-CIO: Gov. Evers declares 2024 the Year of the Worker
WisPolitics
By Staff
Jan. 23, 2024
Stephanie Bloomingdale, President of the Wisconsin AFL-CIO, released the following statement on Governor Evers’ 2024 State of the State Address: Tonight Governor Evers declared 2024 the Year of the Worker. Governor Evers’ focus on workforce development, training and skills education, and infrastructure improvements have led to historically low unemployment, record apprenticeship levels, and good job opportunities for Wisconsinites across the state. In tonight’s State of the State Address, Governor Evers laid out a comprehensive plan to reduce barriers to employment and empower workers. Thanks to Governor Evers’ outstanding financial stewardship, Wisconsin is in the best fiscal health in state history. It’s time for elected leaders in Madison to come together to pass bipartisan initiatives to stabilize child care, expand paid family leave, grow public transit, and fund public education and public services so we can meet the needs of the 21st century workforce.
LABOR AND COMMUNITY
‘Scabby the Rat’ inflatable is more than a union prop
Signal Cleveland
By Olivera Perkins
Jan. 24, 2024
The huge inflatable rat catches your eye first, and then the union picket line does. Scabby the Rat has returned to Greater Cleveland. This time it is part of the picket line at Valley Ford Truck in Valley View. Auto and truck technicians there have been on strike since Dec. 18.
UNION BUSTING
'AI Will Not Scab Us': Post-Gazette Newsroom Decries Use of Artificial Intelligence
Common Dreams
By Brett Wilkins
Jan. 23, 2024
Amid a nearly 16-month strike by Pittsburgh Post-Gazette employees, the union representing workers at Pennsylvania's top newspaper by circulation on Monday filed an official grievance condemning the use of artificial intelligence to create an illustration published in the previous day's edition. "The Post-Gazette's attempt to replace our labor with artificial intelligence is a serious concern to journalists not just in Pittsburgh, but all across the country," Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh president Zack Tanner said in a statement Tuesday. "As newsroom jobs continue to disappear due to corporate greed and mismanagement, we stand firmly against any use of AI that takes work out of union members' hands."
Workers allege union busting, file labor complaint against Modesto-area insulation plant
The Modesto Bee
By Julietta Bisharyan
Jan. 24, 2024
Employers are prohibited from asking workers about union matters. But there’s nothing stopping them from asking about lunch. “‘What did they feed you guys today? I heard you guys had burritos today,’” said Kingspan Insulated Panels worker and organizer Rafael Cabrera, recounting the plant manager’s post-union meeting queries. Though seemingly harmless, he said, these jabs are just one example of the company’s attempts to undermine union activity. The International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (SMART) has filed charges of unfair labor practice against Kingspan with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), alleging the Ireland-based company illegally discharged and disciplined union supporters. These charges follow a Cal/OSHA complaint filed by the union in September regarding safety concerns at the Morgan Road facility, south of Modesto.