Today's AFL-CIO Press Clips
APPRENTICESHIPS
Roosevelt H.S. Launches Pre-Apprenticeship Program with Local 66
Patch
By Jake Mendlinger
Feb. 7, 2024
The Roosevelt School District and Laborers Local 66 celebrated this week the launch of an impactful new construction pre-apprenticeship program at Roosevelt High School. The LEARN Program, created by the Laborers' International Union of North America (LIUNA), equips students with applied academic, work and life skills that provide them with a solid foundation to enter a U.S. Department of Labor-Recognized Apprenticeship program. The Roosevelt School District is the first school district on Long Island to offer the LEARN Program, which has had success in school districts throughout the country.
ORGANIZING
Wellesley Organized Academic Workers (WOAW) Union Vote Passes
The Wellesley News
By Norah Catlin
Feb. 7, 2024
On Jan. 30, Wellesley Organized Academic Workers (WOAW) announced that the vote for a WOAW-UAW union had passed. “This historic union victory is an expression of our desire for a stronger, more connected community where everyone can thrive,” read an email from Erin Battat, Heather Bryant and Annie Brubaker on behalf of the WOAW-UAW organizing committee.
JOINING TOGETHER
The Badger Herald
By Cat Carroll
Feb. 7, 2024
Picketers gathered outside HM Brandt, LLC’s worksite Wednesday morning where workers are currently demolishing the State Street Parking Garage at 415 N. Lake Street. Employees from HM Brandt, LLC are being contracted under Stevens Construction Corp., the company that won the $36 million bid for the City of Madison’s new mixed-use project. The project will make space for a bus terminal for Bus Rapid Transit, student housing and a new public parking structure, according to the City of Madison website. Mike Ervin, Organizing Director for the International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 139, said HM Brandt, LLC, based in Lannon, Wisconsin, has not paid employees standard wages.
Faculty at Philadelphia’s University of the Arts reach tentative contract agreement, averting strike
The Art Newspaper
By Anni Irish
Feb. 7, 2024
Over the last three years, unionised faculty at the University of the Arts (UArts) in Philadelphia have been engaged in negotiations with school administrators for a first contract. On Sunday (4 February), the union announced on Instagram that it had reached a tentative contract with the school. News of the tentative agreement came just hours before a strike authorisation vote that was scheduled for Monday. If ratified, this would be the first contract since faculty at UArts voted to unionise in November of 2020; they are organised under the United Academics of Philadelphia, American Federation of Teachers (AFT) Local 9608. Since forming and beginning contract negotiations in March 2021, the union had held multiple actions, demonstrations, and picket lines to draw attention to their cause. Separate negotiations are currently underway for around 100 staff members at the university who are not represented by AFT Local 9608.
‘This is life-changing’: Emerson faculty union and college reach new collective bargaining agreement
The Berkeley Beacon
By Olivia LeDuc
Feb. 7, 2024
After working off-contract for more than half a year and making gradual progress in negotiations, Emerson’s full-time faculty union ratified the “life-changing” terms of a new collective bargaining agreement with the college at the start of the month.
Allegiant Stadium workers push for union ahead of hosting Super Bowl
KSBY
By Scripps News Las Vegas
Feb. 7, 2024
With the spotlight on Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas ahead of Super Bowl LVIII, workers at one of the NFL’s newest venues are pushing to unionize. During a press conference Tuesday morning inside the local culinary union’s headquarters, The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations Sports Council, UNITE HERE and the NFL Players Association came together and called on Allegiant Stadium to allow its workers to join a union.
IN THE STATES
Rideshare drivers rally at Massachusetts State House to promote unionization efforts
Spectrum News 1
By Amanda Keane
Feb. 6, 2024
Drivers for Uber and Lyft came together and shared their stories of struggle - diminishing returns on rides, no benefits. and longer hours just to make ends meet. So, they took tangible steps to start a union and have a seat at the table. Bethlehem Tsegaye has been an Uber driver since the company entered Massachusetts ten years ago. She’s a mom and used to love the flexible schedule to work while her kids were in school and still be able to take care of them.