POLITICS
Biden Meets With Culinary Workers on Eve of Nevada Primary
The New York Times
By Nicholas Nehamas and Maggie Astor
Feb. 5, 2024
President Biden met on Monday with members of Nevada’s powerful culinary workers union, after the union averted a planned strike by reaching contract agreements with Las Vegas properties over the weekend. Mr. Biden visited the Vdara Hotel, one of the properties where the union agreed to a contract for its members, and greeted workers in an employee cafeteria — shaking hands, taking photos and at one point appearing to FaceTime with someone on a worker’s phone. “Wall Street did not build America. The middle class built America. Unions built the middle class. There would be no middle class without the unions,” he told the crowd. “So I came to say thank you. Not just to say thank you for the support that you’ve given me last time out, but to thank you for having the faith in the union.”
Guest Editorial: The power of workers and unions in 2024 (Opinion)
The Globe
By U.S. Sen. Tina Smith
Feb. 5, 2024
Last year, scenes of striking workers and picket lines dominated the news. Workers from all corners of the American economy — from writers and auto workers, to teachers and health care professionals — came together to fight for their fair share. The labor movement had a big moment in 2023. I hope we can say the same in 2024.
ORGANIZING
Coalition including local culinary union to organize non-union workers at Allegiant Stadium
Fox 5
By Lisa Sturgis
Feb. 6, 2024
A different type of kickoff coming just days before the stadium hosts one of the biggest sporting events in the world - the push to unionize workers at Allegiant gets underway Tuesday. Culinary Workers Union Local 226 will join forces with the AFL-CIO, UNITE HERE, and the NFL Players Association to organize the stadium’s non-union workers. An announcement is planned for 10 Tuesday morning, and you can watch it here. The local culinary and bartenders unions represent some 60,000 workers in Las Vegas and Reno. Its affiliate organization, UNITE HERE, represents 300,000 people in gaming, hotel, and food service in North America.
IGN Staff Votes to Unionize With NewsGuild-CWA
Variety
By Jordan Moreau
Feb. 6, 2024
Employees at IGN, the popular video game and entertainment media site, have announced that they are unionizing with the NewsGuild-CWA labor union. The IGN Creators Guild consists of editorial and creative workers at IGN, which is owned by digital media parent company Ziff Davis. The guild is currently made of over 80 employees, with 87% of the eligible members signing union authorization cards. The union will be fighting for better pay, layoff protections, measurable steps that increase staff diversity and more.
Alabama Arise announces newly formed staff union
Alabama Political Reporter
By Staff
Feb. 6, 2024
The staff, leadership and board of Alabama Arise are thrilled to announce the launch of Alabama Arise Workers United-Communications Workers of America (AAWU-CWA), the newly formed Arise staff union. AAWU-CWA is an affiliate of CWA Local 3908. “I am honored to be a part of an organization that allowed us to make our own choice about whether or not to join a union,” said Formeeca Tripp, Arise’s southeast Alabama organizer. “Even though we have a safe work environment, it is reassuring to know I have job security and a voice as a union-represented worker.”
Holden Forests & Gardens workers are unionizing
Axios Cleveland
By Sam Allard
Feb. 6, 2024
Workers at Holden Forests & Gardens — the organization made up of the Holden Arboretum and the Cleveland Botanical Garden — are unionizing. Driving the news: Employees delivered a letter to management Jan. 30 requesting voluntary recognition of the union. What they're saying: Under the banner "HF&G Workers United," organized under Ohio AFSCME 8, the collective of full-time and part-time employees says they are seeking stability and equity in the workplace.
Teachers strike at two Chicago Instituto charter schools after failing to reach deal
NBC Chicago
By Staff
Feb. 6, 2024
More than 40 members of the Chicago Teachers Union at two Instituto charter schools went on strike Tuesday after the union said it failed to reach a new agreement with the school’s operator. “We want to have the administration respect not just us but also the students that are here,” said science teacher Louis Lucas. Teachers hit the picket lines in front of Instituto Health Science Career Academy and said they’ve been working without a contract for two years.
JOINING TOGETHER
The Onion Union Ratifies Strike-Averting Contract
The Hollywood Reporter
By Katie Kilkenny
Feb. 6, 2024
Creative workers at The Onion, The A.V. Club and Deadspin and other titles owned by G/O Media have ratified the tentative deal that averted a potential strike. Out of 36 members in the Writers Guild of America East-represented bargaining unit, 33 voted “yes” on the labor agreement reached Jan. 31 while three rejected the deal, the WGA East announced on Tuesday. “We’re thrilled about this deal that addresses our unit’s top concerns, and we’re so grateful to every person who showed support throughout our bargaining process. Our unit’s strength and solidarity, together with our incredible labor allies, got us here,” the Onion Union said in a statement. Members of the bargaining unit work at The Onion, Onion Labs, The A.V. Club, Deadspin and The Takeout.
UC Optometrists' 2-Day Strike Could Delay Hundreds of Patient Appointments
KQED
By Farida Jhabvala Romero
Feb. 6, 2024
Optometrists at University of California campuses started a two-day strike on Tuesday over what they call labor law violations by their employer during negotiations for salaries and benefits. Hundreds of patients with appointments this week may have to reschedule. The work stoppage comes as UC and the University Professional and Technical Employees, Communication Workers of America Local 9119, have failed over a year to agree on the terms of employment for more than 80 optometrists who joined the union in 2022. Both parties have recently filed unfair labor practice charges against each other with state regulators.
STATE LEGISLATION
Pennsylvania lawmakers pushing for public sector OSHA protections
ABC 27
By James Wesser
Feb. 5, 2024
“Each state is responsible for extending such protections to public sector workers,” said Angela Ferritto, President, PA AFL-CIO. “While over half of US states, including Maryland and New York, have done so, Pennsylvania has not. This is not a political issue, it’s a policy issue, and quite frankly, it’s a moral issue too.”