JOINING TOGETHER
Fairfax Connector suspends bus service as workers go on strike
Inside Nova
By Angela Woolsey
Feb. 22, 2024
Fairfax Connector workers have launched a strike after months of negotiations for a new labor contract with Transdev, the company that operates Fairfax County’s bus service. Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 689, which represents about 638 bus operators and mechanics for Fairfax Connector, announced the strike just after midnight Thursday. Workers began hitting picket lines at garages in Herndon, Lorton and on West Ox Road in the Fairfax area at 2 a.m. In a news release, the union said there remains “a vast divide” between its demands and Transdev’s, and a strike became “unavoidable” after 12 bargaining sessions due to “Transdev’s unfair labor practices and regressive bargaining.” It also criticizes Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay for an alleged “refusal to weigh in.” “The Union remains committed to bargaining in good faith to reach a tentative agreement on a new contract and intends to continue to meet with Transdev even while on strike,” Local 689 said in a statement. “Several key priorities in a new contract for Local 689 include true retirement security, more sick days, competitive wages for bus operators and mechanics with regional transit companies, and balanced labor-management rights.”
Another Major Hollywood Union, The IATSE, Is Heading Into Studio Negotiations. Here's What To Know
LAist
By Elaine Low
Feb. 22, 2024
IATSE represents more than 150,000 below-the-line entertainment workers, from costume designers to motion picture editors. About 60,000 workers are affected by the two contracts coming up for negotiation.In 2021, IATSE threatened to go on strike, producing an overwhelming 98% authorization vote (with a whopping 90% turnout). But the worst was averted with an October agreement. This time around, the talks come on the heels of last year’s historic WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes.
Southwest Airlines reaches tentative agreement with Transport Workers Union
Street Insider
By Reuters
Feb. 22, 2024
Southwest Airlines has reached a tentative agreement with a local unit of the Transport Workers Union that represents nearly 18,000 operations, provisioning, ramp and cargo agents, the company said on Thursday. The carrier did not provide any details about the agreement signed with TWU 555, which will communicate details of the deal directly to its members.
Northern Virginia bus workers walk off the job as new contract negotiations stall
WUSA 9
By Matt Pusatory and Jacqueline Ouynh
Feb. 22, 2024
Some may face a longer commute in Fairfax County Thursday. Bus workers walked off the job, citing unfair labor practices and stalled bargaining by Fairfax County Connector contractor Transdev. ATU Local 689 represents about 638 Fairfax Connector bus operators and mechanics. The union says workers have been working under an expired contract since December of 2023. Contract negotiations between the union and Transdev have been underway since October.
Best union for Chicago cultural workers
Chicago Reader
By Joe Engleman
Feb. 22, 2024
Since 2021, workers at the Art Institute of Chicago (AIC) and the School of the Art Institute (SAIC), Field Museum, Museum of Science and Industry (MSI), Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, Newberry Library, and suburban libraries (including Niles, Oak Lawn, Waukegan, and St. Charles) have formed worker organizations, each affiliating with the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Council 31. Workers at the Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA) followed suit just last week. Collectively, these cultural institutions represent more than 2,000 newly unionized workers and “the bulk of our [AFSCME’s] organizing here in Chicago” over the last few years, according to AFSCME Council 31 spokesperson Anders Lindall. AFSCME is often thought of as a public sector union, but “a public service union” is a better way of thinking about the 90,000 workers AFSCME Council 31 represents across Illinois, Lindall says.
Southwest Airlines reaches five-year tentative deal with Transport Workers Union
CNBC
By Ryan Anastasio
Feb. 22, 2024
Southwest Airlines
has reached a tentative five-year agreement with a local unit of the Transport Workers Union that represents nearly 18,000 operations, provisioning, ramp and cargo agents, the company said on Thursday. The agreement, which is subject to a ratification by the members of TWU 555, includes average pay increase of more than 18% on the date of ratification and a 3% annual wage increase beyond that.
Virginia city workers notify city of intent to strike
WDIO
By WDIO
Feb. 22, 2024
Virginia city workers with AFSCME Local 454 notified city leadership of their intent to strike on Wednesday evening. AFSCEME Council 65 put out a statement saying in part, “In mediation on Wednesday, February 21, the employer presented what they called a last, best, and final offer that would cut overtime pay, further lower employer contributions to insurance, and negatively impact other earned benefits.”
STATE LEGISLATION
Unemployment benefits for striking workers is ‘labor’s priority this session’
Hartford Business Journal
By Skyler Frazer
Feb. 22, 2024
Democrats invited organized labor officials and workers to the Legislative Office Building in Hartford this week to advocate for a proposal that would give unemployment benefits to striking workers. House Bill 5164 would allow striking employees to access unemployment benefits after two consecutive weeks on the picket lines. It is similar to a Democratic proposal that passed in the state Senate last year, but didn’t get through the House. The Labor and Public Employees Committee is holding a public hearing on the bill today. During a press conference before the hearing, Connecticut AFL-CIO President Ed Hawthorne called the proposal “labor’s priority this session.” “This bill is a labor peace bill because it will keep (workers) at the table, it will force the employer to negotiate in good faith and will prevent strikes. The numbers show that it will not have an adverse effect on the unemployment compensation fund, and it does not lengthen strikes whatsoever,” Hawthorne said.
IN THE STATES
With new contract, Hotel Murano available for union events
The Stand
By Staff
Feb. 22, 2024
With this year’s closure of Olympia’s unionized hotel/event space, UNITE HERE Local 8 would like to remind all union organizations and members that an excellent alternative exists just a few miles up the road in Tacoma. The Hotel Murano offers up to 28,000 square feet of flexible space for a wide range of events, state-of-the-art audio and visual tech, and of course, union hospitality.
LABOR AND COMMUNITY
Former AFL-CIO national organizing director shares career stories during book launch event
The Journal
By Angela F. Durkin
Feb. 22, 2024
To celebrate the launch of former American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) National Organizing Director Stewart Acuff’s career memoir, “Playing Bigger Than You Are: A Life in Organizing,” a book launch, reading and signing event was held Wednesday at the Shepherd University Robert C. Byrd Center for Congressional History and Education.