POLITICS
Michigan seniors blast former president Donald Trump on Social Security and Medicare comments
Michigan Public
By Steve Carmody
March 12, 2024
Some Michigan senior citizens are criticizing former President Donald Trump for suggesting this week he would find ways to cut spending on Social Security and Medicare if elected in November. Monday, during an appearance on CNBC, Trump was asked about long-term solvency issues for Social Security and Medicare. Trump responded, “First of all, there is a lot you can do in terms of entitlements in terms of cutting and in terms of also the theft and the bad management of entitlements, tremendous bad management of entitlements.” President Joe Biden pounced on the statement, posting on X (previously known as Twitter) with “Not on my watch.” Tuesday, a group of senior citizens holding Biden-Harris signs gathered at the AFL-CIO office in Lansing. “Donald Trump made it clear he would try to cut Social Security and Medicare if he returns to the White House,” said Jim Pedersen, the president of the Michigan Alliance for Retired Americans. “And we should take him at his word.”
USW files Section 301 trade petition to level playing field for ship building
WDIO
By WDIO
March 13, 2024
On Tuesday, the United Steelworkers filed a Section 301 trade petition, calling on the United States Trade Representative to start an investigation of Chinese commercial shipbuilding. They also hosted a press conference about this topic on Tuesday. USW International President Dave McCall said the petition is 4000 pages. “If we do not act soon, we will be dependent on China, not only for the products on the vessels. But also for the ships themselves. The filing is a broad indictment. It also identifies steps taken to restore capabilities and capacity for jobs. It’s time to fight back.”
ORGANIZING
Off-Broadway Stagehands’ Union Organizing Gains Steam
American Theatre
By Amelia Merrill
March 13, 2024
After Sarala Pool worked a design internship in college, she dreamed of working Off-Broadway. She wanted to harness her skills to make magic happen onstage at places like the Public Theater. Her dream came true as assistant prop manager on Suffs in 2022, but the job, like all Off-Broadway gigs, was short-lived. She left it scrambling for another job with health insurance as the coverage from her parents expired. “The Public Theater is my favorite place I’ve ever had the privilege to work at,” Pool said at a Feb. 29 press conference at the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE)’s Local 1 hall. “If I could have afforded to stay, I would have.” Pool was speaking with a group of Off-Broadway stagehands and technicians echoing the call for their colleagues to join IATSE. Recent election victories for the crews of Titanique and the Atlantic Theater Company have spurred momentum for the union, which represents stagehands and shop construction crews across multiple areas of the entertainment industry. The Vineyard Theatre voluntarily recognized its crew’s union, bypassing the need for an election, while the crew of Little Shop of Horrors is waiting to see how its leaders respond to their recent unification. This week, the house staff at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago also filed for an election with IATSE; many of the Goodman’s stagehands already work in IATSE contracts.
JOINING TOGETHER
Madison Sourdough employees ratify union contract that boosts pay, benefits
Wisconsin Examiner
By Erik Gunn
March 13, 2024
Employees at Madison Sourdough, a popular Dane County bakery, have ratified their first union contract with the business, nine months after negotiations launched in June 2023. The agreement raises base pay and includes guaranteed annual raises, along with paid sick time and other benefits for about 40 employees represented by United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 1473. The union and Madison Sourdough also have established a joint labor-management safety committee.
Strike ends in Iron Range city as Virginia employees go back to work
Star Tribune
By Christa Lawler
March 13, 2024
Dozens of city employees in Virginia, Minn. returned to work Wednesday, just more than a week after walking off the job amid contentious contract negotiations with city officials. Members of AFSCME Local 454, which includes workers from departments including the public library, parks and rec, and various city buildings including City Hall, said that after eight hours of negotiations, a tentative agreement was approved by the city council on Tuesday night. The majority of union members favored of the contract, according to a news release from AFSCME Local 454.
City bus drivers, maintenance workers approve new contract
TB News Watch
By Gary Rinne
March 13, 2024
Transit drivers and maintenance staff have voted in favour of a new collective agreement with the City of Thunder Bay. The vote conducted on Tuesday saw 70 per cent of the members of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 966 who cast ballots give their approval to the deal. The 165-member local had previously given their bargaining team a strike mandate, but an agreement was hammered out with the assistance of a provincial conciliator.
8 News Now
By IFPTE Local 21
March 13, 2024
On Wednesday, March 13, public employees represented by San Francisco labor unions including Teamsters, IFPTE Local 21, SEIU Local 1021, and more will attend 'Strike School' to learn their rights and prepare for a possible strike if City administrators fail to fulfill their legal obligation through collective bargaining to fix the urgent staffing crisis that has resulted in over 3,700 vacant permanent positions. This crisis undermines the public services that San Francisco residents rely on– from clean streets to timely 911 call responses, and more.
STATE LEGISLATION
Minnesota Lawmakers consider legislation to give striking workers unemployment insurance
WDAY
By Ty Schonert
March 13, 2024
Minnesota DFL lawmakers are unveiling legislation aiming to expand unemployment benefits for striking employees. Representative Kayla Berg (DFL-Burnsville) and Senator Zaynab Mohamed (DFL-Minneapolis) spoke on the House floor, joined by the UAW local 123 and the Minnesota AFL-CIO, about the bill on Tuesday. The bill would provide striking workers access to unemployment insurance. However, lawmakers note the unemployment payments would be paid out to "uncommon" strikes that last longer than a week.
IN THE STATES
Labor WINS in Palmyra School Bond Referendum
Insider NJ
By Staff
March 13, 2024
The New Jersey State AFL-CIO is proud to announce that on Tuesday, March 12th, Palmyra Township voters approved a School Bond Referendum to invest in new classrooms, a new elementary school playground and improved security measures. These improvements will allow children and teachers to thrive in the best possible learning environment. This will create good union jobs and save the community money by taking advantage of a state grant. The Burlington County Central Labor Council and the Southern NJ Building Trades Council spearheaded the effort in favor of the referendum, working alongside the New Jersey State AFL-CIO, our affiliates and community partners. Together, we sent letters, text messages, made phone calls, shared information on social media and visited union members and their families at their homes in Palmyra Township to educate them on the issues at stake and encouraged them to vote for the referendum.
Healey orders creation of Labor Advisory Council
Daily Hampshire Gazette
By Sam Drysdale
March 13, 2024
A Labor Advisory Council will be created to advise Gov. Maura Healey on matters related to organized labor, under an executive order the governor signed Tuesday. Healey also announced Roger Brunelle, former vice president of the Massachusetts AFL-CIO, as her labor advisor, a new post. He joined the administration in June 2023 as a senior advisor in the governor’s Federal Funds and Infrastructure Office. Brunelle spent three decades in organized labor, according to the administration, ten of which his LinkedIn says were as political director for International Union of Painters and Allied Trades District Council 35.
UNION BUSTING
Bowdoin student workers say college is trying to undermine union effort
News Center Maine
By Jason Claffey
March 13, 2024
Bowdoin College student workers trying to form a union have filed a labor complaint, alleging the college threatened to retaliate against them and promised better working conditions if they ditch the effort. A majority of the college's "ResLife" student housing workers last week submitted a petition to college President Safa Zaki announcing plans to unionize in a bid to obtain higher pay. The college on Friday declined to voluntarily recognize the union, meaning the National Labor Relations Board will oversee a union election set for April 3. Also on Friday, the Office and Professional Employees International Union Local 153, which is representing the workers, filed an unfair labor practice charge with the board. Luke Robinson, a sophomore and ResLife worker who supports unionizing, said the charge stemmed in part from a statement the college posted on its website about the union effort. "The (statement) is just brimming with the most obvious anti-union propaganda that you can imagine," Robinson told NEWS CENTER Maine, adding the statement contained inaccurate information about union dues and was therefore coercive.