MUST READ
UAW president Shawn Fain on labor's comeback: "This is what happens when workers get power"
CBS News
By Robert Costa
Feb. 25, 2024
Earlier this month, President Joe Biden paid a visit to the critical battleground state of Michigan. He came to Detroit – Motor City – to court union voters. Mr. Biden had just won the United Auto Workers' endorsement, and he was eager to share the spotlight with UAW president Shawn Fain. Fain told the crowd, "You know what the hell's going to happen if this man's not president, because we've seen what happens. Labor went backwards." "You all are the ones that brung me to the dance," Mr. Biden told union workers. "And I never left it."
LABOR AND TECHNOLOGY
The New York Times
By Noam Scheiber
Feb. 25, 2024
Liz Shuler, the A.F.L.-C.I.O.’s president, said Microsoft had gone further in collaborating with organized labor than almost any other major company. She said she first met Mr. Smith to discuss labor issues almost two years ago, at which point he told her, “If workers want a union, why shouldn’t they be able to form one?” Then he added: “This is the prevailing winds of change in the country. I think Microsoft should be adapting to it instead of resisting it.”
LABOR AND ECONOMY
Striking Workers Could Soon Qualify For Unemployment Benefits
HuffPost
By Dave Jamieson
Feb. 23, 2024
Many workers who go on strike could soon gain a new bit of leverage against their employers: unemployment benefits. Lawmakers in several states are considering the novel approach of extending unemployment insurance to workers who hit the picket lines, saying it would help level the playing field with deep-pocketed companies that can starve their workforces in contract fights. Strikers do not qualify for such benefits in the vast majority of states.
JOINING TOGETHER
Union workers ratify new Meijer contracts with wage increases, more time off
Crain’s Grand Rapids Business
By Abby Poirier
Feb. 23, 2024
Members of the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 951 voted this week to ratify new contracts with Meijer that contain improvements to wages, paid time off, 401(k), health care and pay for more than 25,000 Meijer employees. The three separate, four-year contracts approved this week are effective Feb. 25. The contracts cover employees working in retail, distribution centers and transportation and retail facility maintenance and offer immediate wage increases of up to $1.50 per hour.
Variety
By Cynthia Littleton
Feb. 23, 2024
The American Federation of Musicians has struck a tentative agreement with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, reaching a deal that union leaders hailed as “a watershed moment for artists” that includes residuals for made-for-streaming content and protections against the use of AI. The AFM announced the tentative agreement one day after the sides resumed contract negotiations that began in January. “This agreement represents a major win for musicians who have long been under-compensated for their work in the digital age,” said Tino Gagliardi, AFM international president and chief negotiator. “We have secured historic breakthroughs in streaming residuals, established critical guardrails against the misuse of AI, gained meaningful wage increases and other important gains. This agreement represents a watershed moment for the artists who create the soundtracks for countless film and TV productions.”
Fairfax Connector remains suspended as strike continues into Friday
WJLA
By Winston Rogers and Joy Wang
Feb. 23, 2024
As unionized bus workers continue their strike of Transdev and the Fairfax Connector, County officials said services will remain suspended Friday. County officials said Thursday night that the ongoing strike by the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 689 has continued to impact services on all routes. A shop steward at the West Ox Garage in Fairfax, Virginia, told 7News' Joy Wang that the strike will likely impact Monday commutes as well.
Friends of Youth staff joins together with OPEIU 8
The Stand
By Staff
Feb. 23, 2024
Employees at Friends of Youth have voted overwhelmingly for representation by the Office and Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU) Local 8. The group of 125 youth specialists, case managers, therapists, on-call staff, coordinators, administrative staff, facilities and other classifications in Seattle are devoted to providing youth and families with critical services including shelter, supportive housing, transitional housing, rapid re-housing, housing navigation support, safe place & street outreach, and behavioral health services. They sought to unionize to ensure greater equity and transparency and to have the ability to participate more fully in decisions that impact the community they serve. The Friends of Youth employees join thousands of nonprofit employees across the country represented by OPEIU’s Nonprofit Employees United (NEU).
All The Right Notes! American Federation of Musicians Reach Tentative Deal With Studios
Deadline
By Dominic Patten
Feb. 23, 2024
Just days after resuming direct talks, the American Federation of Musicians has reached a tentative agreement with the studios and producers. Unanimously recommended by the AFM bargaining committee, the deal will be submitted to the general membership for ratification in about 10 days, sources tell Deadline. Finalized late last night, the AFM agreement for a new contact with the AMPTP still needs to put into formal language, as is always the case in such negotiations.
Akron General nurses notify hospital of intent to picket amid stalled contract negotiations
WKYC
By Chris Beeble
Feb. 24, 2024
The Professional Staff Nurses Association, Ohio Nurses Association of Akron General Cleveland Clinic have notified the hospital of their intent to strike due to a stall in ongoing contract negotiations. According to the nurses union, negotiations began on January 9 as part of their effort to "discuss top priorities on fair labor practices and safe staffing."
STATE LEGISLATION
AFL-CIO plans second union rally in less than a week at Iowa Capitol
Des Moines Register
By Kevin Baskins
Feb. 23, 2024
For the second time in less than a week, union members plan to take their grievances directly to the Iowa Capitol. The Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO is planning a rally in the rotunda at 3:15 p.m. Monday. About 100 union members are expected to turn out, said union President Charlie Wishman. “Private sector, building trades, public sector, manufacturing workers and more will spell out how this Legislature and governor’s priorities need to change and how labor has a better vision for the future of Iowans,” said an AFL-CIO news release.
Georgia labor groups push back on bill barring companies from voluntarily recognizing unions
Atlanta Civic Circle
By Timothy Pratt
Feb. 24, 2024
The AFL-CIO organized the lobbying effort to convince Georgia lawmakers that the bill would hurt workers. The organization, which includes the United Auto Workers (UAW), is the nation’s largest umbrella group of affiliated unions. James Williams, secretary-treasurer of the Georgia AFL-CIO, said SB 362 “takes away a pathway” to unionizing a workplace, and is an example of the “state government dictating business-employee relations.” Under federal labor law, when more than half the employees at a workplace sign cards saying they want to join a union, employers can choose to recognize the union based solely on the “card check,” as it’s known.
River Cities’ Reader
By Charlie Wishman
Feb. 23, 2024
On Monday, February 26, 3:15PM, in the Iowa State Capitol Rotunda, union members from across the state of Iowa will join to rally for real solutions for what workers need. Private sector, building trades, public sector, manufacturing workers, and more will spell out how this legislature and governor’s priorities need to change; and how labor has a better vision of the future for Iowans. Raising wages, restoring and expanding collective bargaining, overturning the so-called "right to work" law, and fixing and improving our broken worker's compensation system in Iowa, are just a few of the policies that will help Iowa's workers get back on their feet.